ALBANY— She was addicted to drugs and heard she could earn $1,000 a day as a sex worker in the Capital Region.
But after only a few days work going on “dates” for Christopher Thomas in October 2019, the woman had seen enough — and bolted back to Vermont, she testified Tuesday at Thomas’ sex trafficking trial in U.S. District Court in Albany.
“Because I wanted to go home and they were making me uncomfortable,” the Rutland woman testified before U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino.
The woman was one of several witnesses — including four former sex workers — who testified against Thomas, who is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Kopita and Rachel Williams.
The 39-year-old Colonie man faces charges of sex trafficking of children, sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement, conspiracy-related sex trafficking and prostitution charges, witness tampering and distribution of child pornography.
During cross-examination, Thomas defense attorney John Wallenstein asked the Vermont woman: “Isn’t it a fact that you had a meltdown and ran out?”
“Yeah,” she responded in agreement.
Earlier, the Vermont woman told jurors that in September 2019, she responded to Facebook messages which she believed came from Thomas.
One message stated “I want you!” Another said: “It’s money to be made.”
She responded in a message that she was “down” to work as an escort.
A month later, she testified, Thomas’ assistant, Janell Grady, 26,known as “Nelly,” who has since pleaded guilty to sex trafficking-related charges, picked her up in Vermont.
She said Grady provided her with marijuana and ecstasy as they rode from Vermont to Thomas’ home on Richmond Street in Colonie.
During the ride, two female sex…
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